20,000 expected to travel 23rd Roller Coaster Yard Sale route
Published 12:00 am Friday, September 19, 2008
- 20,000 expected to travel 23rd Roller Coaster Yard Sale route
It’s no fish tale! Roller coasters are not sold along the way, but yard-sale enthusiasts from all over will delight in the yard sales along this 150-mile route. On October 2-4, second-hand treasures, farm stands, delectable foods, antiques and more will be found along Highway 63 in a nine county area of south central Kentucky and northeast Tennessee. The yard sale route begins in Cave City, Ky and flows east through Temple Hill and communities leading to Tennessee as the Roller Coaster route flows along Kentucky Highways 63, 163, 90, and 127 and Tennessee highways 52 and 111.
“It’s a great way for families, friends, church groups, and civic groups to do serious fund-raising,” said Andrea Burckhard, event coordinator. “It’s a fantastic family affair. There’s something for everyone all weekend long from Cave City, through Glasgow to Temple Hill, Freedom, Moore’s Hill, Mount Hermon, Mud Lick, Tompkinsville and Hestand in KY; through the communities in Moss, Celina, Standing Stone, Livingston, Monroe, Boom, Byrdstown and Static in Tennessee; back into Kentucky through Albany, Burkesville, Marrowbone, Dubre, Beaumont, Summer Shade and Eighty Eight. Participation in the annual event is free. Vendors can arrange with local businesses, landowners or clubs for set up. Vendors and travelers are encouraged to visit the Rollercoaster website, www.rollercoasterfair.com for more information
Towns once ignored by the interstate have seized upon these marathon sales to attract visitors to experience their off-the-path charm firsthand. The Roller Coaster Yard Sale continues to grow and provides an opportunity to enjoy the magnificent scenery that Kentucky and Tennessee offer. The sale route circles Dale Hollow Lake, one of the region’s most popular tourist destinations for a variety of water sports including houseboating, skiing, scuba diving and fishing. The Roller Coaster Yard Sale also passes nearby Kentucky’s Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest cave system in the world, and the old Mulkey Meeting House in Monroe County, Kentucky’s oldest church.
In addition to more than 150 miles of yard sales along the route, travelers will find fine arts and crafts, antiques, woodworkers, and artisans and craftsmen of every trade as well as music, southern home cooking with BBQ stands, country ham and biscuits, antique cars, fried pies, fudge, desserts and much more.
Events taking this place this year along the Roller Coaster Yard Sale route, include the following:
Byrdstown-Pickett County, Tennessee
? Bluegrass in historic Byrdstown’s Square at The Dixie Café, Friday & Saturday nights
? Dale Hollow Bass Classic Fishing Tournament, Sat. & Sun.- Oct. 4 & 5
Burkesville- Cumberland County, Kentucky
? Cumberland River Cruise-In at Alex Montgomery Chevrolet, Oct. 4
Cave City n Barren County, Kentucky
? Outdoor Concert with Sammy Kershaw, Bryan White, Warrior Poetes, and 8th Nation beginning at 4:00pm, call 270-773-3131 for information, Oct. 3
? Cave City Good Ole Days-Downtown Cave City, Oct. 4
Edmonton- Metcalfe County, Kentucky
? 27th Annual Pumpkin Festival- Edmonton Town Square, Oct. 4
Celina – Clay County, Tennessee
? Pancake Breakfast from 6:00AM-10:30AM, Oct. 4
The Roller Coaster Fair was the idea of Sarah Ann Bowers, a resident of Temple Hill, Kentucky who wanted to improve Highway 63, the Cordell Hull Memorial Highway. In 1986, to prove the road was heavily traveled, she established the first Roller Coaster Fair on the now popular regional highway. Through her diligence, the Roller Coaster Yard Sale carries on. Sadly, Mrs. Bowers passed away in March 2008 and those on the Roller Coaster Fair Committee work hard to carry on her legacy and are grateful for the work she did to promote her community.
In Glasgow, brochures and posters for the Roller Coaster Fair are available at the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce in downtown Glasgow, 270-651-3161. As travelers make their way through the Glasgow and Barren Community for this annual event, be hospitable and make them feel welcome. The Glasgow-Barren County Tourist & Convention Commission, the Cave City Chamber of Commerce and the Temple Hill Lions Club are proud sponsors of the Roller Coaster Yard Sale.
For more information, visit the Roller Coaster Yard Sale website at www.rollercoasterfair.com or phone the Dale Hollow Regional Info Center, 1-866-INFO-DHL (463-6345).
